Washington (CNN) – Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Florida, said Thursday that a rumored independent bid by Florida's Republican governor could actually benefit him in a three-way general election race.

Once considered the favorite, Gov. Charlie Crist has found himself lagging behind former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio by more than 20 percentage points in the latest polling of Florida's Republican primary. Meek, by comparison, has had no real competition for the Democratic nod, and thus has been largely absent from the media coverage.

"[If] [t]he governor makes a decision that he's going to run as an independent, automatically, I become a factor in this race," Meek said in an interview on John King, USA. "There will no longer be debates with just the two of them. I would be invited as another major candidate in the race. So to say that it will just be a two way battle, that it will continue, it will turn into a three way battle."
A recent Quinnipiac University poll indicates Crist would grab 32 percent of the vote if he runs as an independent in November, with Rubio at 30 percent and Meek at 24 percent. Crist has until the end of April to declare if he is going to leave the Republican primary and run as an independent.

Meek told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that he can win over voters across the political spectrum even if Crist runs as an independent.

"I think a lot of Democratic voters are going to get to know me more, a lot of independent voters, some - even some Republican voters," Meek said. "I think a lot of people are turned off about the discourse that has been going on in the primary. We've been consistent all through this race - my campaign has been. And we feel that our grassroots effort, qualifying by petition, running toward major issues that are facing Florida, giving straight answers, is going to help us in the long run."

soundoff(11 Responses)

Crist will be an independent in a Republican suit and Rubio will be a Republican in a Republican suitt. Meeks will kick both Republicans to the curb!!!

April 22, 2010 06:25 pm at 6:25 pm |

FLIP THE SCRIPT on REPUBLICANS

Mr. Meeks ... be quiet.

April 22, 2010 06:32 pm at 6:32 pm |

GI Joe

I'd vote for Crist as an Independent before I'd vote for Rubio as a republican.

The republicans=PARTY BEFORE PEOPLE. – KINDA LIKE GERMANY 1938. REPUBLICANS.

April 22, 2010 06:51 pm at 6:51 pm |

Gil

And this is the republican party saying they will sweep to big gains in November? Maybe they need to wait till closer to the election and also realize Americans have grown sick of their NO, No NO,! They said No to Wall Street Reform and now that they see 80% of Americans support this reform they are suddenly changing their tune. Oh, republicans! It will be elction day soon could that have something to do with it???

April 22, 2010 06:59 pm at 6:59 pm |

Indy

Why is it that the more corrupt you are ,and the more lies you tell makes you a great politician in the Republicans mind ?

April 22, 2010 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

joel palmer

... and the Meek shall inherit the Earth

April 22, 2010 07:42 pm at 7:42 pm |

Perusing-through

FLORIDA DEMOCRAT KENDRICK MEEK NEEDS TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT

If Meeks gave the polling data a casual glance, he would notice Charlie Crist 'consistentlly wins' in all variations of a 3-way race between Meek, Rubio, and Crist.

Go Crist, Go!

April 22, 2010 08:00 pm at 8:00 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Rubio is in bed with Bush/Cheney and Karl Rove and using the same old playbook on Florida. Crist is a better man and won't play by Cheney's rules.

April 22, 2010 08:00 pm at 8:00 pm |

carlos

I have just sent 1,000 dols. to Rep. Meek campaign.......no comparison between him and marquito.........Rep. Meek will win and it will be big for Florida

April 22, 2010 08:02 pm at 8:02 pm |

Pragmatic

Rubio is getting in deeper and deeper as an ethically challenged liar ...and the GOP is lining up to kiss his .... ring!

They are so narrowly focused on "winning" they would cheerfully vote for a bag of hot, fresh, steaming manure if was labeled "conservative republican" The GOP is ramming this corrupt politician down our throats!